The European Commissioner for Climate, Wopke Hoekstra, has warned that the world is entering an era of “geopolitical winter” amid the rise of far-right movements in Europe and the potential return of Donald Trump to power in the U.S.
In an interview with Politico, Hoekstra stated that the coming years will be “extremely difficult geopolitical times” that will “get worse before they get better.” He emphasized that Europe cannot tackle global climate change alone and must collaborate with other nations to make progress.
Hoekstra also stressed that the European Union must engage with key emission sources, such as China, Saudi Arabia, and the U.S. under Trump’s leadership, to address climate change on a global scale.
Earlier, the new head of the EU’s foreign affairs department, Kaja Kallas, suggested that Trump would need to take a “hawkish stance” on Russia if he wants to have a meaningful influence on China.
Trump, in turn, shared his thoughts on his conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris, where both attended the Notre-Dame reopening ceremony. Trump mentioned that he is “formulating a concept” for a rapid end to the war and stated on his Truth Social platform that “Ukraine and Zelenskyy” are seeking an agreement to end the conflict.